Fancy Rat FAQs Will my rats get sick? There are many diseases that pet rats can get, but the most common is mycoplasma pulmonis, or myco. More information on Mycoplasma Pulmonis Every rat has myco, but some are more resistant to it than others. Myco is caused by bacteria and, in most cases, is controllable with antibiotics. It can be triggered by overcrowding, high ammonia levels in the cage, or stress. This is a respiratory disease and one of the first signs of a myco infection is usually repeated sneezing. It is normal for pet rats to sneeze occasionally, just like we do, however if the sneezing should become consistent, treat with antibiotics immediately. A combination of Baytril and Doxycycline is a favorite, but there are many other choices. Medication Usage Chart by the RMCA It is very important to quarantine new rats for AT LEAST 4 weeks before introducing them to your existing rats. A new rat may look healthy, but the only way to be absolutely sure is to quarantine them for a few weeks and watch for any signs of illness. The only 100% effective way to quarantine is to use a separate building. However, if you are in a situation where you have no choice but to quarantine in the same building, taking very extreme measures to keep your existing rats safe would certainly be better than doing no quarantine at all. This would include things like quarantining your new rats as far as is physically possible in your home from your existing rats and NEVER going anywhere near your existing rats after you have been in the same room with your new rats before completely showering and changing clothes. Here is an excellent site with information on doing a very thorough in-house quarantine. I would have to recommend following every single one of these steps to make your existing rats as safe as possible from your new rats. Quarantine Procedures by Mischief 'n' Mayhem Rattery ahead to next FAQ, "How often should I take my rats out of their cage?" back to main FAQ page